Some Natural Remedies For Indigestion And Heartburn

About an hour after a large, tasty meal, your stomach starts burbling menacingly and your esophagus begins to burn.

As you reach for the Tums, you think to yourself, “There has to be a way to avoid this!” And thankfully there is.

There are some natural remedies for indigestion and heartburn that can help even those with the most sensitive of stomachs cope with digestive issues.

So the good news is that while indigestion and heartburn plague millions, for many people, these problems are avoidable.

Natural Remedies For Indigestion And Heartburn

Indigestion results from food fermenting in the stomach, causing bloating and gas. When the gas begins to bubble up into burps, heartburn often follows. This is known as acid reflux. Here are some effective natural remedies for preventing acid reflux and treating the symptoms…

Digestive Enzyme Supplements

If you’re one of those who experience frequent heartburn, digestive enzyme supplements may help. These can be found at your local health food store.

Heartburn and indigestion are often the result of lethargic digestion, and sometimes this is due to diminished digestive enzymes in the stomach, especially hydrochloric acid.

The body needs large amounts of gastric acid to break down food and absorb the nutrients. If the food doesn’t digest quickly enough, it begins to ferment and create these uncomfortable digestive issues.

Digestive enzyme supplements should be taken directly before meals.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Another natural remedy for indigestion and heartburn is apple cider vinegar. This beverage is high on acid content, thanks mainly to the vinegar. As explained above, acidic levels need to be high to efficiently dissolve food in the stomach.

You should always dilute acid cider vinegar with water before consuming it. Not only will this ease any burning sensations you get from the acid, but it also helps to prevent the acid from damaging the enamel on your teeth too. Indeed, if you’re worried about this, you can drink it through a straw.

To use apple cider vinegar for acid reflux, mix two or three teaspoons of it in an 8 oz glass of water and take before eating, or indeed whenever you start to feel the symptoms of acid reflux. If the taste of this mixture is too acidic or sour for you, then try adding a little honey to it too.

Aloe Vera Juice

In Europe, heartburn sufferers have turned to aloe vera juice for centuries, as the aloe helps to soothe an irritated esophagus. Make sure you use aloe vera juice that is specifically made for internal use.

Again, if you don’t like the taste of it, you can dilute it with water. You should start off with small doses until you get used to it, and gradually up the dosage until you’re taking about 2 or 3 ounces.

You should take the aloe vera juice about 20 – 30 minutes before meals to help prevent acid reflux. And also take it any time you’re suffering from acid reflux, to relieve the symptoms.

Licorice

Licorice also has a long history as a home remedy for heartburn and indigestion. I mean real licorice here, not the candy which often only contains very small amounts of licorice extract, if any at all.

As too much licorice can cause constipation as well as other side-effects, you should talk to your doctor before starting to use it for heartburn relief.

Other Ways To Prevent Heartburn And Indigestion

Aside from natural cures, there are also some common sense ways to prevent heartburn and indigestion from occurring in the first place.

For many people, overeating can be a cause of digestive difficulties; the solution is simply to not eat so much.

For others, the problems can be traced to eating too fast without properly chewing the food. This results in the stomach having to do more work than it’s equipped to.

Also, certain types of food and beverages are known to trigger acid reflux. For example, chocolate, citrus fruits, alcohol, and fried, fatty foods. It often helps to keep track of your diet and see what food seems to lead to heartburn or other forms of indigestion. Then you can cut that food out of your diet.

Lastly, food allergies can also lead to heartburn and indigestion. If you experience frequent digestive issues and nothing seems to help, it may be possible that you’re allergic to certain foods. A quick trip to the doctor can determine if this is the case.

Conclusion

If you suffer from acid reflux, consider trying some of these natural remedies for indigestion and heartburn. As with all natural remedies, you should talk to your doctor first to make sure what you’re planning to take is safe for you and your own particular circumstances.